Highway Patrol Continues Investigation into Alcester Fatal Crash

PIERRE – South Dakota Highway Patrol officials say the investigation into Monday’s fatal crash in Alcester continues to indicate that the incident was unintentional.

Two people were killed and six others were injured when a vehicle ran into Alcester Care and Rehab Center, hitting seven people who were coming out of the building. The group was a mixture of center employees and residents. The driver was also injured.

An 81-year-old woman, driving a 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix, had pulled into a driveway area near the building when witnesses say the driver unintentionally stepped on the gas instead of the brakes, sending the car into the building.

Names of the eight people involved have not yet been released. The female driver is one of the six that were injured. The injured were taken to hospitals in Hawarden, Iowa; Sioux City, Iowa; and Sioux Falls. Some of the injured have already been treated and released.

Highway Patrol officials say the investigation continues and will likely take several days to complete.